Building Code Branch: Summer Newsletter Updates 2022

By: S. Joellen Thiel 

Staff Updates

We have some new faces in the Building Code Branch! Mary Parsons joined DFPC as an Administrative Assistance and Leonard Ocansey joined us as a Building Inspector Intern from the Department of Defense SkillBridge program. You can read more about them both in this issue of the newsletter.

Preliminary Meetings

• Preliminary meetings are temporarily suspended due to the size of the plan review queue.

Revision Clouds

• Revision clouds are required on all responses to plan review comments and any revisions made during construction after the permit has been issued.  All revision clouds shall remain on the construction documents for the entire project and be identified with deltas.

Newly Adopted code Interpretations

• As more is learned about the newly adopted codes, DFPC is revising interpretations when needed.

New Fire Forms

• The Building Code Branch now requires 2 forms to be filled out when the local fire authority does not have a DFPC Certified Fire Inspector III.  These 2 forms are used in lieu of the Form4070. 
  • As a reminder, the Form4070 is used for the local fire authority Certified Fire Inspector III to indicate required deferred submittals and inspections.
• The new Form4072 is filled out by the responding fire department.  It covers 4 items in the 2021 IFC under 501.3 – Apparatus Access, Fire Lane Locations, Security Gates Across Apparatus Access, and Hydrant Systems Construction Documents & Calculations.  The code language requires these reviews be completed by the local fire department.  
• The new Form4073 is filled out by the responsible design professional in charge.  It covers the 24 items in the 2021 IFC, Section 105 that require fire construction permits.  It serves as a checklist for the designer to determine if a fire permit needs to be obtained from DFPC.  
• These two forms are only required when the local fire authority does not have a DFPC Certified Fire Inspector III.  Phyllis LoSordo, the Permit Technician, will send the forms out during the submittal process once she verifies if there is or is not a DFPC Certified Fire Inspector III at the local fire department.  

Third Party & Special Inspectors

• Many permits are being held up during the approval process because the third party inspector and/or special inspectors have not been identified or do not have the required qualifications to complete inspections.  
• Third Party Inspectors Process:
  • DFPC is now requiring the Form4030 be filled out indicating who the third party inspector will be. 
  • Keep in mind that third party inspectors are only used for inspections from IBC Chapter One.
  • You can check to see if the inspector is qualified by clicking here and navigating to Registered Third Party Inspectors.  
• Special Inspectors Process:
  • Special Inspectors are qualified to complete inspections required in IBC Chapter 17.  You can check to see if the inspector is qualified by clicking here and navigate to Approved Special Inspectors.  
  • Special Inspectors are approved by discipline. 
  • Each special inspector’s qualifications are reviewed by the Building Code Branch Chief before they are approved.  
  • Make sure the special inspectors indicated to be used are qualified in the required disciplines from the statements of special inspection on the documents.  
    • If they are not, you may submit their qualifications for review and approval by the Building Code Branch Chief as part of the permit process.
  • DFPC is working on a process to make the notification of both third party and special inspectors part of the electronic submittal.

June 6, 2022